What the hell is a Mint Calculator?

[v]

Mint Calculator???
Mint???

TY
"\V/"
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[Norm]

It's where an old greasy calculator that was used in a
truckstop next to a cigar ashtray for 20 years,

subsequently got left in the hot sun underneath a box of

peppermint patties that got melted into the keyboard.

Super-mint is where its delivered as is.
Mildly mint is where a garden hose was used to clean off the worst of it.

:o)

[John]

I just love how people try to be creative and insert the word mint on calculators that aren't mint. Like "Mint except for the 2 dents."

[Mike]

"Mint" has a very special meaning. In my opinion, Mint cannot have any scratches, dents or other flaws. Period! All the parts must be original.

"Mint" means used but implies "like new" condition.

"New" on the other hand, means never used.

As far as appearance goes, one should not be able to tell a "Mint" calculator from a "New" calculator.

But people stretch (i.e. exagerate) the description to include Mint, whereever they can.

There are two calculators on eBay right now that use mint. One is described as 9.5 (which is subjective) and not mint, in my opinion, if it has scratches. Another says Mint but has 2 obvious dents.

But, since this is all subjective and not defined anywhere, the only real important thing is does the seller tell you how he defines Mint. If he does, then no harm, no foul.

Edited: 9 July 2003, 7:57 p.m.

[Jim L]

Quote:

---

It's where an old greasy calculator that was used in a
truckstop next to a cigar ashtray for 20 years,
subsequently got left in the hot sun underneath a box of
peppermint patties that got melted into the keyboard.

---

And "minty" is 20-90% worse than that.

[gifron]

I believe the term comes from numismatics, though more descriptive terms (i.e. grading) are commonly used today. A coin fresh from the mint would be considered "mint uncirculated," shortened to "mint." "Brilliant uncirculated" would be a subset of "mint uncirculated," etc... A coin can have bag marks, and still be "mint."

Based upon this reasoning, I would not require a "mint" calculator to be perfect, but I would not expect it to have any marks that it didn't have when it left the factory, like corrosion, a tiny dent, engravings, etc... Someone mentioned a "bomber" issue calc in another posting, which reminded me of some 35's (I think) listed on The Bull Cabinet, which were issued to Lawrence Livermore Laboratory. These reportedly are heat stamped with "LLL," or some such thing. Since this is a designed in, factory (mint) applied mark (assuming it is - I don't know though), if the calcs are in mint condition otherwise, I think they still could be called "mint."

Saying something is "mint, with a tiny dent and my name written neatly on the back," is just wrong. On the other hand, saying "it would be mint, except for the..." is okay.

IMHO

[Mike]

If you use Mint as in coin collecting, then Mint denotes a much higher quality than simply New. On a scale of quality, Mint should be at the top, in my opinion.

[Trent Moseley]

Seems to me in the old days with reference to cars the word was "cherry" (and sometimes this was said of girls too).

tm